Although U.S. retail sales of herbal supplements reach into the billions each year, very little of these profits are from the sale of Chinese or East Asian herbs. This is due to the perception of quality—as such herbal medicine providers must show that their herbs are trustworthy.
To aid in this change, the NCCAOM Chinese Herbal Safe Compounding and Dispensing Taskforce has created a voluntary program, the Certificate of Qualification.
The course subject matter will be based on the FDA cGMP and the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) herbal safety white paper, which was released last year. Features of this new program include the following:
The objective in creating this Certificate of Qualification program is to garner the public's support of the AOM professional, and to demonstrate accountability and responsibility for patient safety.
The NCCAOM provides additional details regarding this new program in our upcoming June issue.
One of the longest nerves in the body is known as the vagus nerve (VN). The VN is the 10th pair of cranial nerves that originates at the brain stem in the medulla oblongata. This nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is a part of the ANS. Research suggests ear acupuncture can activate the VN.
Migraines are unilateral, throbbing headaches, often with concurrent nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia. Approximately 10% of the global population suffers from migraines, with women more than three times as likely as men to experience them. Medication remains a mainstay treatment option, making nondrug alternatives critical to safer practices. New research suggests auricular acupuncture may be one such alternative.
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How much training in gua sha did you get in acupuncture school? If it was not much more than an introduction, now is the time to revisit this powerful healing modality. I’ve found gua sha to be one of my go-to skills to address myofascial dysfunction, all sorts of pain, limited range of motion, and even to promote general well-being. Let’s discuss the keys to effective gua sha treatment, which I hope will get more acupuncturists using it in the clinic.